Fluid pressure-intensifier

Abstract

A fluid pressure-intensifying apparatus of the double-acting type has an elongated cylindrical housing that encloses the low pressure and high pressure chambers and compressively position and restrains the elements that make up the low and high pressure chambers under operating conditions. Hydraulic working fluid 4-way control valve solenoids are actuated by an actuating piston assembly mounted in fluid communication with the low pressure working fluid chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid pressure-intensifying apparatus which comprises a low pressure--high pressure cylinder means providing a cylindrical low pressure chamber, a pair of elongated cylindrical high pressure chambers and a pair of low pressure chamber and caps defining opposite ends of said low pressure chamber, each end cap being provided with a bore in which an actuating piston extends, the high pressure chambers extending from opposite ends of said low pressure chamber; low pressure--high pressure piston means having a double acting low pressure piston section mounted for reciprocal movement in said low pressure chamber, and having a pair of elongated high pressure piston sections connected to opposite sides of said low pressure piston section and extending from said low pressure chamber into an adjacent high pressure chamber for reciprocal movement therein; working fluid inlet-outlet means mounted in fluid communication with said low pressure chamber such that working fluid may alternately work against one side or the other of said low pressure piston section to cause said low pressure--high pressure piston means to reciprocate; and working fluid flow control actuating means for actuating a working fluid flow control means to change the direction of working fluid flow through said working fluid inlet-outlet means, said actuating means including actuating piston means mounted in each end cap bore in fluid communication with said low pressure chamber for reciprocal movement and so constructed and arranged to be shifted from a first, inert position to a second, actuating position by contact with said low pressure piston section and to be returned to said first position by working fluid in said low pressure chamber; each said actuating piston means comprising a shifter pin having an inner end exposed to said low pressure chamber, an outer end extended outward from said end cap, and a mid portion providing a piston face in fluid communication with said low pressure chamber, said shifter pin being so constructed and arranged that the area of said piston face is greater than the area of said inner end whereby pressurized working fluid in said low pressure chamber acting on both said piston face and said inner end will effect movement of said shifter pin into said low pressure chamber; said actuating piston means including a spring-loaded switch-contacting plunger telescopically mounted to the outer end of said shifter pin for actuating contact with a switch when said actuating piston means is shifted to its actuating position. 
     
     
       2. A fluid pressure-intensifying apparatus which comprises a low pressure--high pressure cylinder means providing a cylindrical low pressure chamber and a pair of elongated cylindrical high pressure chambers, the high pressure chambers extending from opposite ends of said low pressure chamber; low pressure--high pressure piston means having a double acting low pressure piston section mounted for reciprocal movement in said low pressure chamber, and having a pair of elongated high pressure piston sections connected to opposite sides of said low pressure piston section and extending from said low pressure chamber into an adjacent high pressure chamber for reciprocal movement therein; cylindrical housing means enclosing and constraining said low pressure--high pressure cylinder means to position and maintain said pressure chambers in alignment; and fluid inlet-outlet means mounted by said housing means in fluid communication with said high pressure chambers to simultaneously introduce fluid to be pressurized to one high pressure chamber and withdraw pressurized fluid from the other high pressure chamber; and working fluid inlet-outlet means mounted in fluid communication with said low pressure chamber such that working fluid may alternately work against one side or the other of said low pressure piston section to cause said low pressure--high pressure piston means to reciprocate. 
     
     
       3. The intensifier of claim 2 wherein said low pressure--high pressure means includes a low pressure cylinder, a pair of end caps fitted to opposite ends of said low pressure cylinder to define said low pressure chamber, and a pair of centering rings; each end cap having a longitudinal passage therethrough for receiving one of said high pressure piston sections for reciprocal movement therein, each such passage being counterbored for containing one of said centering rings; a pair of high pressure cylinders defining said high pressure chambers, each fitted over a portion of one of said centering rings, and fitted to and extending outward from an end cap whereby each centering ring maintains the adjacent high pressure cylinder inner end in alignment with said low pressure cylinder and with said cap longitudinal passage. 
     
     
       4. The intensifier of claim 3 wherein said fluid inlet-outlet means includes a pair of check valve bodies each having a first portion fitted into the outer end of one of said high pressure cylinders and a second portion mounted by said housing means in alignment with said centering rings whereby the adjacent outer ends of said high pressure cylinders are maintained in alignment with said low pressure cylinder. 
     
     
       5. The intensifier of claim 4 wherein said housing means includes a housing cylinder having threaded end sections, and including a pair of threaded retainers each provided with a bore in which one of said valve bodies is fitted, each end retainer being so constructed and arranged to compressively engage an adjacent valve body with the adjacent one of said high pressure cylinders, when said end retainers are screwed to said housing cylinder, with sufficient force to hold together and position the aforesaid intensifier elements under operating conditions. 
     
     
       6. A fluid pressure-intensifying apparatus having a low pressure chamber and a pair of high pressure chambers, the high pressure chambers extending from opposite ends of said low pressure chamber, which comprises an elongated cylindrical housing means enclosing said low and high pressure chambers; a pair of high pressure cylinders positioned within said housing means to provide said high pressure chambers, a pair of end closure means each mounted to an inner end of one of said high pressure cylinders and positioned within said housing means to provide end walls separating said low pressure chamber from said high pressure chambers; low pressure--high pressure piston means having a double acting low pressure piston section mounted for reciprocal movement in said low pressure chamber, and having a pair of elongated high pressure piston sections connected to opposite sides of said low pressure piston section and extending from said low pressure chamber through an adjacent end closure means into an adjacent high pressure chamber for reciprocal movement therein; fluid inlet-outlet means mounted by said housing means in fluid communication with said high pressure chambers to simultaneously introduce fluid to be pressurized to one high pressure chamber and withdraw pressurized fluid from the other high pressure chamber; and working fluid inlet-outlet means mounted in fluid communication with said low pressure chamber such that working fluid may alternately work against one side or the other of said low pressure piston section to cause said low pressure--high pressure piston means to reciprocate. 
     
     
       7. The intensifier of claim 6 wherein said fluid inlet-outlet means includes a pair of check valve bodies each having a first portion fitted into the outer end of one of said high pressure cylinders and a second portion mounted by said housing means in alignment with said centering rings whereby the adjacent outer ends of said high pressure cylinders are maintained in alignment with said low pressure cylinder. 
     
     
       8. The intensifier of claim 7 wherein said housing means includes a housing cylinder having threaded end sections, and including a pair of threaded retainers each provided with a bore in which one of said valve bodies is fitted, each end retainer being so constructed and arranged to compressively engage an adjacent valve body with the adjacent one of said high pressure cylinders, when said end retainers are screwed to said housing cylinder, with sufficient force to hold together and position the aforesaid intensifier elements under operating conditions. 
     
     
       9. The fluid pressure-intensifying apparatus of claim 6 includes working fluid flow control actuating means for actuating a working fluid flow control means to change the direction of working fluid flow through said working fluid inlet-outlet means, said actuating means including actuating piston means mounted in fluid communication with said low pressure chamber for reciprocal movement and so constructed and arranged to be shifted from a first, inert position to a second, actuating position by contact with said low pressure piston section and to be returned to said first position by working fluid in said low pressure chamber. 
     
     
       10. The intensifier of claim 9 wherein said low pressure--high pressure cylinder means includes a pair of low pressure--high pressure cylinder means includes a pair of low pressure chamber end caps defining opposite ends of said low pressure chamber, each end cap being provided with a bore in which an actuating piston means extends. 
     
     
       11. The intensifier of claim 10 wherein each actuating piston means includes a shifter pin having an inner end exposed to said low pressure chamber, an outer end extended outward from said end cap, and a mid portion providing a piston face in fluid communication with said low pressure chamber, said shifter pin being so constructed and arranged that the area of said piston face is greater than the area of said inner end whereby pressurized working fluid in said low pressure chamber acting on both said pistons face and said inner end will effect movement of said shifter pin into said low pressure chamber. 
     
     
       12. The intensifier of claim 11 wherein said actuating piston means includes a spring-loaded switch-contacting plunger telescopically mounted to the outer end of said shifter pin for actuating contact with a switch when said actuating piston means is shifted to its actuating position.